Inflation manifold valve and flange assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly of valve body and mounting flange connected and sealed together by a novel crimped joint which strongly resists turning of the valve body relative to the flange. The valve body, for example, may be adapted for mounting in an inflation manifold, and the flange may be adapted for being sealed to the wall of an inflatable article at an opening through such wall. The invention includes a novel method of and an apparatus for forming the crimped joint.

United States Patent Mackal et a1.

INFLATION MANIFOLD VALVE AND FLANGE ASSEMBLY Inventors: Glenn H. Mackal,Saddle River;

George E. Lardner, Hawthorne, both of NJ.

l-lalkey-Roberts Corporation, Paramus, NJ.

Filed: Jan. 18, 1972 Appl. No.: 218,669

Assignee:

US. Cl 251/145, 285/216, 285/222, 285/258, 137/223, 9/11 R, 29/512 Int.Cl. F161 5/02, B2ld 39/18 Field of Search 29/512, 513; 285/216, 222,256, 257,258, 158; 251/145; 137/223, 224, 224.5, 225-234, 234.5; 9/11,12,13, 314-327 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1942 Hosking137/224 X Aug. 28, 1973 Primary Examiner-Wi1liam R. Cline Art0rneyAlfredVibber [57] ABSTRACT ratus for forming the crimped joint.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O Ill 4 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 2 Sweets-Sheet INFLATION MANIFOLD VALVE ANDFLANGE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an assembly of valve body andmounting flange connected and sealed thereto by a crimped joint whichstrongly'resists turning of the valve body relative to the flange.

The invention also relates to a method of and an apparatus for formingthe crimped joint.

Although not limited thereto, the invention is illustrated herein inconnection with the use of the assembly in a C inflation manifold foruse with an inflatable article such as a life vest, life raft, and thelike. In such use the connection between valve body and the mountingflange must sustain the torque of pulling a lanyard to open a CO,cartridge. Prior constructions of the same general type have included anassembly of valve body and rubber or rubber-like mounting or basewherein the flange is molded about, cured and bonded to amulti-perforated flange integral with the valve body. The mountingflange was then cemented to the side wall of an inflatable article at ahole therein. Such construction is shown for example, in MilitarySpecification MILI23l45A(AS), which may employ an inflator valve stemNo. 52A6598. This construction has been in use since the time of WorldWar II; it is quite satisfactory for rubberized fabric, but it requiresexpensive molding equipment for forming the mounting flange upon thevalve body, and oven or kiln equipment for curing the molded elastomericflange.

A more recently developed assembly of this type is that shown in MoranUS. Pat. No. 3,512,807. In such assembly, a plastic flange or base,adapted for being heat sealed to the wall of an inflatable article, hasa central passage therethrough of a non-circular shape, the valve bodyhaving a complementary shape for interfitting therewith so that valveand mounting flange are locked against relative rotation. Thecombination of valve body and mounting flange are held together andsealed to each other by being compressed between a flanged head on oneend of the valve body and the sleeve position of an inflation manifoldin which the valve body is mounted and a cap nut on the other end of thevalve body.

The latter above-described prior art construction contains many partsand, therefore, is costly and timeconsuming to assemble, and theyintroduce many possibilites for valve leakage and failures. Further, thetorque-sustaining capacity of the connection between the valve body andmounting flange or base is restricted, because of its limited diameterand the fact that the interengaging relatively non-rotatable partsforming such connection are not actually greatly outof-round.

The assembly of the present invention is particularly characterized byits high torque-resisting capacity, as well as the ease with which theconnection between the valve body and the mounting flange is made.The'assembly can be pre-tested, if desired; the cap nut merely securesthe valve body of the assembly in the manifold and seals it thereto,rather than also being relied upon to seal the valve body to themounting flange.

The invention also includes the provision of a method of and anapparatus for forming the above-described connection between the valvebody and the mounting flange of the assembly.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are forthe purpose ofillustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in end elevation of the valve of the invention mountedin an inflation manifold, the crimp mounting flange to which the valveis sealed being itself sealed to a fragmentarily shown side wall of aninflatable article at an opening therethrough;

FIG. 2 is a view in axial section through the outer portion or body ofthe valve per se, the section being taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in bottom plan of the assembly of valve, crimp flange,and inflatable article, a fragment of the side wall of the inflatablearticle being shown;

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section through the valve body, thesection being taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view partially in side elevation and partiallyin axial section of an assembly of crimp flange and valve body, theinner or rear end of thevalve body being about to be split and clinchedby a descending male die;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the male die having advancedinto generally the midpoint of its downward stroke;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 but with the male die havingadvanced into its lower terminal position;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevaton of the male valveclinching die; and

FIG. Q is a view in bottom plan of such die, the view being taken fromthe line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Turning first to FIG. 2, there is there shown in axial section thetube-like body 10 of the valve. Body 10 is securely mechanicallyconnected and sealed to a heatsealable plastic crimp flange 11, which inturn is heatsealed to the side wall or panel 12 of an inflatable articleat a hole 14 therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the crimp flange isdisposed below or inwardly of the side wall 12. In the illustrativeembodiment the body 10 is made of a suitable metal such as brass. Thecrimp flange is of a suitable heat sealable elastomeric plastic materialsuch as polyurethane. The crimp joint, which will be described in detailhereinafter, is generally designated by the ref'erence character 15.Although not limited thereto, the assembled valve and crimp flange aredescribed herein and are shown in FIG. 1 as being parts of a C0inflation manifold, generally designated 16, for the inflatable article,which may be a life vest, life raft, or the like.

The manifold 16 has a sleeve 17 having a passage 18 therethroughdisposed normal to the plane of the paper of FIG. 1, passage 18 being ofD-shaped cross-section with a flat surface 19 which in FIG. 1 isdisposed at the lower side of the passage. The valve body 10 in theupper or outer portion thereof has a D-shaped crosssection of such sizeand configuration as accurately to fit within the passage 18 in thesleeve 17 of the manifold 16. The valve 10 is held in position in thesleeve 17 and sealed thereto by means to be described.

The manifold 16 has a further, transverse portion 20 which constitutes achamber, portion 20 having an internally threaded end 21 adapted toreceive a C cartridge (not shown). The sealing means on the neck of thecartridge, usually in the form of a soft metal such as solder, may bepierced by a hollow needle (not shown) which is advanced toward thecartridge upon the turning of a needle-advancing means, which is hereshown at 22 in the form of a bell crank, clockwise about its pivotmounting pin 24 on the portion 20 of the manifold. In use, the bellcrank 22 is pulled by grasping and pulling a handle 26 which is attachedto a lanyard 25 which in turn is attached to the outer end of the arm ofthe bell crank shown as lying horizontal in FIG. 1.

Such pulling of the lanyard so as to open the CO cartridge and inflatethe life vest or life raft frequently must take place in stormy seas andunder conditions which require the cartridge to be opened quickly. Thepulling of the handle 26 and the swinging of the bell crank 22 subjectthe manifold 16 to a clockwise torque, (FIG. 1), such torque beingeffectively opposed by the side wall 12 of the inflatable article actingthrough the crimp flange 11 and the valve body 10. It is of the utmostimportance that the opening of the cartridge through the pulling of thelanyard does not turn the valve body with respect to its crimp flange11, nor disturb the seal therebetween.

Valve body 10 has an upper or outer portion 29 in the form of a tube ofuniform wall thickness, (except for the axially extending flat thereon),the outer end of such portion of the valve body being provided with anexternal thread 30 and an internal thread 31. Thread 31 receives thethreaded portion of a conventional inflation valve core (not shown), thevalve core element of which selectively sealingly cooperates with thefrustoconical valve seat 40 which is formed in the passage in the valvebody at the zone between the outer circular cylindrical passage 39 andthe inner circular cylindricalpassage 41 having a diameter somewhatsmaller than that of passage 39. The portion 29 of the valve body 10 hasa transverse hole 32 therethrough, such hole communicating with thechamber within portion of the manifold 16 so that CO under pressure canpass from the opened CO cartridge into such chamber and thence throughthe hole 32, down through the valve and into the inflatable article.

The valve body 10 is mounted in the passage 18 in the sleeve portion 17of the manifold 16, as above described. The valve body is held in themanifod and sealed thereto by having a sealing washer (not shown)disposed in an annular groove 34 on the valve body immediately above oroutwardly, of an annular abutment or flange 35 on the valve body pulledtightly against one end of the sleeve 16 of the manifod by a cap nut 27which is threadedly mounted upon the external threads 30 and the outerend of the valve body. An annular sealing washer (not shown) is mountedbetween the inner transversesurface of the cap nut 27 and theconfronting end of the sleeve portion 16 of the manifold.

The inner end of the body 10 of the valve has an initial external shapeand a cross-section which are best shown in FIG.5. Immediately axiallybeyond or upwardly from the flange 35, as the valve body is shown inFIG. 5, such end of the valve body has a circular cylindrical outersurface 43. Surface 43 merges with a surface 36 at an annular line 38,elements of surface 36 which lie in radial axial planes being convexlypartcircular and decreasing in thickness in the direction away fromflange 35 until it reaches substantially an annular edge 37. The passage41 through such upper (FIG. 5) portion of the valve body is of circularcylindrical shape throughout its length. It is such end portion of thevalve body which is deformed, after the assembly of the crimp flange llthereon, so as securely mechanically to connect the two parts togetherand to insure a seal therebetween under the most rigorous serviceconditions.

In its relaxed, unmounted condition, the crimp flange 11 has a centralhole 42 therethrough which is slightly smaller in diameter than theouter diameter of the lower or inner portion 43 of the valve body beyondthe flange 35 which is received therein. For example, the hole 42 mayhave a relaxed diameter which is 0.010 inches less than the outerdiameter of the surface 43 of the valve body.

Referring particularly to FIGS wherein the crimp flange 11 is showntelescoped upon the valve body but is as yet uncrimped thereon, it willbe seen that the crimp flange 11 has a flat extended annular surface 44(at the bottom as shown in FIG.5), an upper radially outer annularsurface 46 which is disposed at a small angle with respect to surface44, a steep, upwardly converging frusto-conical surface 47, and an uppertransverse annular surface 49. All of such surfaces are coaxial and arecoaxial of the valve body 10 assembled in the crimp flange. Inwardly ofthe annular surface 49 the crimp flange 11 has a recess 50 which has aradially outer circular cylindrical side wall 51 and a bottom wall 54which is a part of a torus of circular radial section, surface 54 beingjoined to surface 51 by a sharp annular corner or fillet 52 the elementsof which in radial axial section enclose an angle of less than As shownin FIG. 1, the recess 50 is axially deep enough wholly to receive thecrimped connection 15, the annular surface 49 protecting the other wallof the inflatable article from engagement with the crimped connection.

As will be seen in FIG. 5, when the parts are assembled as shown, thesurface 54 of the crimp flange extends downwardly substantially to theannular line 38 on the valve body. There is intimate, sealing contactbetween the confronting and tightly engaging cylindrical surfaces 42, 43of the crimp flange and the valve body because the relaxed diameter ofsurface 42 is less than that of surface 43.

The crimp joint 15 between the valve body 10 and the crimp flange 11 isformed, as shown in FIGS.5, 6, 7, by employing an apparatus including acrimping tool 55 which is specifically shown in FIGS.8 and 9. Suchcrimping apparatus separates the initially continuous or unseparatedside wall of the inner end of the valve body into a plurality ofidentical prongs or petals (6 shown), and bends them radially outwardlyand then reversely so that their lower ends, which are in the form ofhooks or teeth, bite into the surface 54 of the crimp flange 11 at therecess 50 so as to have firm keying" engagement therewith.

This relationship is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the splits orclefts between successive prongs 56 in the lower or inner end of thevalve body are designated 57, the hook-like ends or teeth on the prongs56 are designated 59, and the depressions in the inner surface of therecess 50in the crimp flange 11 formed by theends 59 of the prongs aredesignated 60.

As shown in FIG. 8, the crimping tool 55 has a main, upper circularcylindrical body 61 which is adapted to be mounted on the lower end ofavertical press plunger for reciprocal movement in a vertical direction.The crimping tool 55 has an axially disposed pilot or mandrel part 62projecting from the lower end thereof, part 62 being of equilateral,polygonal cross-section (sixsided in this instance). The side surfacesof portion 62 are designated 64, successive surfaces 64 meeting at edges65 which are disposed in planes radial of the tool 55. The portion 62 istapered, the surfaces 64 thereof and the edges 65 thereof convergingdownwardly (FIGB) at an angle a with respect to the axis of the tool inaxial planes disposed normal to surfaces 64. The lower end 66 of theportion 62 is uniformly and symmetrically rounded, as shown.

Extending radially outwardly of each of the surfaces 64 and in the lowerend portion of the body 61 (FIG.8) above the respective surfaces 64 arepart-spherical recesses or scallops 67 which are cut into the maintransverse lower surface 68 of the portion 61 of the tool. Recesses 67may be formed, for example, by an engraving tool of sphericalconfiguration which is advanced toward the body 61 with its longitudinalaxis disposed at the angle a centrally of and with respect to therespective side surface 64 of the pilot portion 62 of the tool.

The boundary lines 69 between successive recesses 67 lie in the sameradial axial plane as the lines 65 between I successive surfaces 64.

The crimped joint 15 between the valve body and the crimp flange 11 isformed as shown in FIGS.5, 6, and 7. The valve body 10 is mounted upon asuitable support (not shown), so as to sustain the major portion of theaxial thrust imposed thereon, by the lower surface of the flange 35.Some of such thrust may, if desired, also be taken by engagement betweena suitable abutment and the lower end of the valve body. The crimpflange 11 is then telescoped over the then upper end of the valve bodyso as to lie as shown in F165. Thereupon the press plunger is lowered,driving the tool 55 downwardly so that the pilot portion 62 of the toolenters the upper end of the valve body. This position of the parts isshown in FIG.5, wherein the side surfaces 64 of the pilot portion havenot yet engaged the valve body but the edges 65 between side surfaces 64have just made contact with the valve body.

Further downward travel of the tool 55, asshown in FIG.6, causes thethinned and thus Iweakened end of the side wall of the valve body to besplit in 6 equal intervals by the edges 65 between successive surfaces64 thereof. The thus-formed rudimentary prongs, designated 56 in FIG.6,travel upwardly and radially outwardly with respect to and within therecesses 67 inthe lower end of the tool body 61, the central radialgeometrical elements of which lie parallel to the corresponding elementof surface 54 of the crimp flange so that they are progressivelydeformed and in effect turned back on themselves. During such operation,the various parts 10, 11, and 55 remain centered with respect to eachother, such action being aided bythe fact that the portion 61 of thetool 55 has an outer diameter such that the lower end of such toolaccurately fits within the vertical circular cylindrical sidewall 51 ofthe crimp flange l1.

When the tool 55 has reached its lower terminal position, as shown inFlG.7, the crimp 15 between the valve 10 and the crimp flange 11 iscomplete. As the crimped connection is shown in H082 and 7, the prongs56 are thickened somewhat at their bight or zone of reverse bend, andare thereby strengthened by the upsetting action of the tool 55thereupon. The radially outer hooklike ends of prongs 56, as well as themain parts of the prongs, lie in depressions which they form in thesur-' face 54 of the crimp flange l1, and the axially inner surfaces ofthe prongs overlie and tightly, compressingly engage the surface 54 ofthe crimp flange. No further compaction or deformation of the prongs 56is necessary, although, if desired, the tool 55 may be withdrawn fromthe assembly shown in FIG.7 and a second tool (not shown) having a flat,transverse lower end may be thrust downwardly within the recess 50, as,for example, at a second station of the crimping apparatus in orderstill further to bend the prongs 56 downwardly and to deepen thedepressions 50 formed thereby and into which their outer ends 59lockingly fit.

Because of the elasticity of the crimp flange 11, and the resilientdeformation of the crimp flange 11 by the prongs 56, the connectionbetween the valve body 10 and the crimp flange 11 remains tight despitetheir subjection to high torque forces which tend to turn them relativeto each other. Because the central portion of crimp flange 1] is verysubstantially compressed between the prongs 56 and flange 35, thematerial of the crimp flange tends to flow radially inwardly intotighter sealing engagement with surface 43 of the valve body. A furtherseal between the crimp flange 11 and body 10 is formed between the upper(FIGS) surface of flange 35 of the valve body and the central portion ofthe crimp flange, by reason of the axial compression of the crimp flangebetween the flange 35 and prongs 56.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to aplurality of preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be expresslyunderstood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such aplurality of embodiments, but is capable of numerous modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l 1. An assembly comprising a sleeve-like outer valve body and amounting flange connected and sealed to the valve body, an end portionof the valve body extending through and beyond an opening in themounting flange, an abutment on the valve body extending thereaboutaxially inwardly of and in contact with the mounting flange, the portionof the valve body extending beyond the mounting flange being split intoa plurality of prongs, said prongs being spread and bent to overlie anaxially outer face of the mounting flange and to thrust the mountingflange into forcible sealing engagement with the abutment therebyproviding a connection strongly resisting turning of the valve bodyrelative to the flange.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting flange has arecess in the axially outer face thereof, said recess surrounding theopening in the mounting flange, the crimped connection between the valvebody and mounting flange lying wholly within and being shielded by thewalls of said recess.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting flange is madeof resilient plastic material and is locally deformed by the prongs asthey thrust the mounting flange against the annular abutment.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the valve body has aninterference fit withthe opening in the mounting flange when the latteris in relaxed condition.

5. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the prongs have re-entranthook-like ends, said ends of the prongs being embedded in depressionsformed thereby in the end surface of the mounting flange which theyoverlie.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the axially outer surfaceof the mounting flange has an axially outwardly convex part-toroidalsurface coaxial of and closely surrounding the opening in the mountingflange, the opening and the outer surface of the valve body beingcircular cylindrical, and the prongs being bent radially outwardly andover said part-toroidal surface on the mounting flange.

7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the ends of the prongs aredisposed radially outwardly of the valve body in a circle coaxial of andof a diameter which is not greatly less than that of the annularabutment on the valve body.

8. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the prongs aredisposed radially outwardly of valve body in a circle coaxial of and ofa diameter which is not greatly less than that of the annular abutmenton the valve body.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said prongs decrease inwall thickness from an innermost portion to an outermost portion.

1. An assembly comprising a sleeve-like outer valve body and a mountingflange connected and sealed to the valve body, an end portion of thevalve body extending through and beyond an opening in the mountingflange, an abutment on the valve body extending thereabout axiallyinwardly of and in contact with the mounting flange, the portion of thevalve body extending beyond the mounting flange being split into aplurality of prongs, said prongs being spread and bent to overlie anaxially outer face of the mounting flange and to thrust the mountingflange into forcible sealing engagement with the abutment therebyproviding a connection strongly resisting turning of the valve bodyrelative to the flange.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein themounting flange has a recess in the axially outer face thereof, saidrecess surrounding the opening in the mounting flange, the crimpedconnection between the valve body and mounting flange lying whollywithin and being shielded by the walls of said recess.
 3. An assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the mounting flange is made of resilientplastic material and is locally deformed by the prongs as they thrustthe mounting flange against the annular abutment.
 4. An assemblyaccording to claim 3, wherein the valve body has an interference fitwith the opening in the mounting flange when the latter is in relaxedcondition.
 5. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the prongs havere-entrant hook-like ends, said ends of the prongs being embedded indepressions formed thereby in the end surface of the mounting flangewhich they overlie.
 6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein theaxially outer surface of the mounting flange has an axially outwardlyconvex part-toroidal surface coaxial of and closely surrounding theopening in the mounting flange, the opening and the outer surface of thevalve body being circular cylindrical, and the prongs being bentradially outwardly and over said part-toroidal surface on the mountingflange.
 7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the ends of theprongs are disposed radially outwardly of the valve body in a circlecoaxial of and of a diameter which is not greatly less than that of theannular abutment on the valve body.
 8. An assembly according to claim 3,wherein the ends of the prongs are disposed radially outwardly of valvebody in a circle coaxial of and of a diameter which is not greatly lessthan that of the annular abutment on the valve body.
 9. An assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said prongs decrease in wall thicknessfrom an innermost portion to an outermost portion.